Guangfeng studied the man lounging on the slightly faded sofa in the main room of an old house on the edge of the capital. The third prince was frowning, but the man looked calm and collected. A raven perched on the back of the sofa, it’s beady eyes staring straight at Long He, who stood behind Guangfeng. The air in the room was full of tension that the man on the sofa seemed to be ignoring.

“You know I never betray my employers, Your Highness,” the man said calmly as he lay back with his hands behind his head. One foot rested on his other knee and tapped the air. “No matter how much money I’m offered. It’s bad for business.”

“I’m not asking who hired you, Yun Cai, and I already know you were hired to take my fiance from her home. Tell me where you took her,” the third prince insisted. “I will pay any price for that information.”

“I don’t know where she is,” Yun Cai said calmly. “I was only hired to get her out of the residence and turn her over to someone else. They were responsible for taking her wherever she is now.” The man turned to look at Guangfeng. His lips held a smile, but his eyes looked bored. “You can have that information for free. I won’t charge you for something you already know.”

Guangfeng’s fist tightened and he turned to look at Long He, who had remained silent since they had come in the room. The dragon seemed unusually focused as he stared at the raven on the back of Yun Cai’s couch. The prince felt a twinge of annoyance at the dragon’s seeming disinterest and turned back to Yun Cai. “Did you think Lord Long came out of his library to see you because he was bored?” he asked the information broker. “The girl you abducted is his ward and he wants her back.”

“I’m aware,” Yun Cai replied calmly. “You can’t threaten me with Lord Long, though. I have my own considerations. The library’s guardian can’t do anything to me.”

The raven on the back of Yun Cai’s chair spread its wings and flapped down to the floor before shifting into the form of a black haired woman with a full figure. “I suggest you tell them what you know, Yun Cai. The dragon says he’s going to eat me if you don’t and I don’t want to become food.”

“Lueduo?” Yun Cai finally sat up and looked over at the raven-turned-woman. “What dragon?”

The woman pointed her finger at Long He. “That one. The priestess’ dragon.”

“Priestess?” Yun Cai frowned and looked at Long He with narrowed eyes. “What priestess?”

“The dragon priestess, of course. The one who built the library he protects,” Lueduo answered. “The woman you took is her descendant and the dragon has formed a contract with her. You cast the spell to conceal her presence from anyone, so he can’t find her. If we don’t tell him where his master is, he’s going to eat me.” The woman looked calmly at Yun Cai. “We have an agreement, as well, Yun Cai. I agreed to form a contract with you on one condition. You haven’t forgotten it, have you?”

“No. I’ll keep my promise, Lueduo.” Yun Cai stood up and walked over to the side of the room. He pulled down a bowl of water and set it on a table. “Your Highness. I can’t provide her exact location, but I can show you who you need to find to be able to find her. As for payment...I would like to meet with your fiance in private once you have recovered her.”

Guangfeng frowned and looked over at Long He. “What’s going on?”

“It seems that Yun Cai is capable of scrying,” Long He answered. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. That’s what the stone on his ring is best suited for.”

“That isn’t what I meant.” Guangfeng pointed at the woman. “What is she?”

The dragon blinked. “A spirit beast, obviously. She seems quite high ranked within the raven clan, judging by her powers and ability to transform into a human.”

“Can they be trusted? I don’t think letting someone capable of hiding Yuelan’s presence from you be alone with her is a good idea.”

Long He looked over at the raven.

“Yun Cai won’t hurt her,” the raven said quickly. “It goes against the terms of the contract he has with me. And I don’t want to be eaten.”

“There you have it. My mistress will be fine. Accept the terms.” Long He turned to look back at Guangfeng. “We don’t have time to negotiate. She has already been missing for two days and is supposed to leave with you the day after tomorrow to go to Zhongshu.”

Guangfeng clenched his fist again at the reminder and walked over to Yun Cai and the bowl of water. “Then we’ll accept. I’ll allow a meeting in private with Yuelan.”

“If you’ll look into the water, Your Highness, you’ll see the man I handed her over to. While I don’t know where he took her, I do know he has been where she is being held more than once,” the information broker said calmly.

“Why can you bring up his image and not find her?” Guangfeng asked bluntly as he looked into the water.

“Because where she is being held is dark, Your Highness,” Yun Cai answered, shrugging. “I can tell you that it’s underground, the floor and walls are stone, the room isn’t large, and there’s water covering the floor, but that’s all. There isn’t anything to see and no distinguishing characteristics about any of it. Magic isn’t perfect and my abilities are limited.” He nodded at the bowl of water again. “Please quickly memorize the face. I can’t hold the image up forever.”

Guangfeng studied the image of the heavy-set man with a scar going from his right eye to the left side of his face and down to his jaw for a few seconds then nodded. “I’ve remembered it. Is it possible to transfer the likeness from the water to paper?”

Yun Cai gave Guangfeng a flat look. “If it was, would I have to hold it for you in the water?” The information broker’s words were pointed and his tone annoyed. “Maybe if this were in the time of the priestess it would be, but if it was possible then the way to do it has been lost since.”

“Never mind then. The scar is enough to find him with,” Guangfeng replied. “Release the spell you cast to conceal Yuelan’s presence.”

“Can’t. She isn’t here and the spell is on her. I can’t lift it unless I can touch her.” Yun Cai shrugged. “I was paid extra for that spell, too. Didn’t ask any questions, but looks like I got the answers anyway.” He looked pointedly at Long He before picking up the bowl of water and putting it away on the shelf.

Guangfeng understood the words were a reminder that whoever had kidnapped Yuelan had most likely known Long He’s true form. That information was limited, which narrowed down the potential suspects.

“Let’s go.” Guangfeng looked over at Long He and headed out of the house.